Behemoth

Behemoth is a captivating feature film released in 2015, conceptualized and directed by the world-renowned Chinese documentary filmmaker Zhao Liang. This enticing creation is a part of a series of documentaries such as Petition and Crime and Punishment, which masterfully scrutinize the harsh realities of contemporary China.

Behemoth portrays the distressing aftermath of the coal mining industry in Inner Mongolia. The film primarily delves into the human toll behind the consumption of resources that drive global economy, while echoing with the mythological metaphor of "Behemoth" from The Book of Revelations.

Shot over several years, Behemoth employs a hypnotic, visually stunning, yet profoundly chilling approach to portray the grim reality of the impending environmental apocalypse caused by unchecked industrialization. This cinematic masterpiece is characterized by tranquil yet dreadful contemplative shots that aid in capturing the gruesome reality of life as a coal miner in China's autonomous region of Inner Mongolia. It brings to life the brutal destruction caused by human obsession and exploitation of natural resources in the relentless pursuit of economic growth.

The film unfolds itself in the stark, barren landscapes of Inner Mongolia, where miles of verdant grasslands have been transformed into hellish landscapes. In its committed endeavour to bear witness to the devastating environmental and human cost of coal mining, Zhao Liang eschews the conventional approach of narrations, interviews, voice-overs or onscreen text. Instead, the movie proceeds as a series of meticulously captured imagery and sounds, demonstrating an unswerving commitment to visual narration.

The cinematography is conceptualized as a silent visual poetry, interspersed with scenes reminiscent of Dante's Inferno. Through long, sweeping shots, the movie transports the viewers to an ethereal world of eerie beauty which is, at once, gut-wrenchingly real. The poignant visuals of gigantic machines gnawing into the earth, the mountains reverberating with the rumble of explosions, and the workers toiling in the abyss, covered in soot, paint a vivid picture of industrial devastation.

The movie takes viewers on a mesmerizing yet disconcerting journey from the fiery depths of the mines through ghost cities, ultimately ending at a newly fabricated paradise which is merely an illusory product of materialistic dreams. The film's relentless gaze on exploited landscapes and the workers' exhausted bodies plays out as a striking reflection of contemporary existence, embodying the ceaseless human struggle for survival in a dystopian world.

The poetic rhythm creates a unique cinematic language which exposes the futility of human ambition when it comes at the cost of environmental degradation. It is both a critique of contemporary industrial practices and a chronicle of human resilience to survive in the harshest conditions. Treading an unconventional path in documentary storytelling, the film eerily hovers between document and metaphor, wielding an austere poignant portrayal of the predatory relationship of man with nature.

Behemoth is backed by a haunting, minimalist sound design that impeccably complements its vivid visual storytelling. The constant drone of machinery in the background, coupled with the occasional industrial and natural sounds, permeate the narrative to lend it a haunting, sombre quality.

A compelling feature of this cinematic marvel is its arresting play with light and darkness. Zhao Liang exploits this dichotomy to great effect, contributing to the movie's stronger environmental and allegorical underpinnings.

In Behemoth, Zhao Liang successfully marries the artistic aesthetic to environmental advocacy, concocting a gripping visual symphony that speaks volumes without uttering a word. Although centered in China, the film resonates universally, holding up a mirror to a world that is becoming increasingly obsessed with growth at the cost of sustainability. This incredibly wordless yet profound reflection leaves a lasting impression on the viewers, urging them to reconsider humanity's voracious appetite for resources that's pushing the Earth towards a catastrophic precipice.